Apparatus for treating footballs



Dec. 17, 1935. KOZMER Re. 19,789

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FOOTBALLS, BASKET BALLS, OR LIKE INFLATABLE BALLSOriginal Filed April 25, 19:51 a 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 53 NW 55 JIM I ll I dH fi v 65 m y 5,,

keissued Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FORTREATING FOOTBALLS, BASKET BALLS, OR LIKE INFLATABLE BALLS Serial No.532,823, April 25, 1931.

Application for reissue April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18.968

12 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful method and apparatus fortreating footballs, basketballs, Rugby, soccer and similar inflatableballs of the type wherein a rubber bladder is employed, protected orenclosed by a leather casing or envelope.

As is well known in the art, balls of this type before they meet theapproval of the schools, colleges, athletic associations and gameoflicials must meet certain requirements as to shape, size, weight, etc.For example, a standard basketball must be 12" in diameter, of adefinite weight, and be filled with a certain amount of air. Likewise astandard football must be oval shaped, of a deflnite size both in lengthand breadth and must contain a definite amount of air during use.

One of the problems of the past has been to manufacture these balls sothat they conform accurately to these requirements particularly as tosize and shape.

In manufacturing the cover or casing for the ball, which is ordinarilymade of leather, the strips of leather are sewed together with the seamextending inwardly to form the hollow sphere with a smooth outer face.It frequently happens, however, that when a bladder is placed inside ofthe leather casing and air is pumped into the bladder to bring the ballto its round final shape, it is found that the finished ball is notspherical. A bulge here and a depression there, due sometimes toimperfect matching of the pieces of leather or due to inherent defectsin the leather or to other causes, are some of the defects in a finishedball that make the ball imperfect in shape, hence, totally unfit foruse.

The only available method for treating such balls in the past was byhammering the balls with mallets or bouncing them first on one spot oftheir surface and then on another in an efiort to make them more nearlyround by this rather dubious treatment. The only result of suchtreatment was rather to break down and weaken the leather to a greaterextent.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel method for shapingballs.

A further object is to provide a. method whereby a ball may be shaped bybeing placed within a definitely shaped mold.

A further object is to provide new and improved apparatus for shapingballs of the type specified.

A further object is to provide a method whereby a ball may be shaped byapplying pressure from within and heat about its exterior surface torender the leather soft and pliable.

A further object is to provide apparatus for shaping balls that iscomparatively simple in construction and operation and by the use ofwhich the balls may be easily and quickly shaped with absolute accuracy.

Other objects and advantages will be more clearly understood as thedescription progresses. Reference is had to the accompanying drawings inwhich Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus with the reservoirremoved;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the split moldingunits;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view of a modified form of molding unittaken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line |l of Fig. 3;and

Fig. 8 is a plan sectional view through one of the lower molding unitstaken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

As most plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises a basemember It provided with suitable legs I2 which support a platform l4upon which the molding units A and B are placed. p

The platform I4 is preferably at a suflicient height that the moldingunits may be easily aecessible to a person standing in front of theapparatus.

In the drawings I have illustrated two different molding units, one formolding elliptically 85 shaped objects, such as footballs and the otherfor molding spherically shaped objects such as basketballs, soccerballs, etc. In view of the fact that these different molding units areidentical in mode of operation and in all respects except w the interiorcontour of the mold, only the mold for footballs will be described indetail.

The mold A comprises a pair of split sections l6 and I8 pivotallyconnected together at their rear upon a hinge member 20. A pair ofstationary pin members 22 are secured to the front wall of lower sectionl8 and a pair of latch members 24 are pivotally mounted upon suitablebolts 26 upon the front wall of section It. Each of the latches 24 hasan arcuate open-mouthed slot 28 which is adapted to receive the pinmember 22 to securely lock the units It and I8 together. Each of thelatch members 24 is further provided with an outwardly extending handle30 whereby the u latches may easily be grasped to be moved to an open orclosed position.

As clearly shown in Fig. 5 each of the sections l6 and I1 comprises ahollow casting having an inner wall 32 shaped to form a semi-ellipticalcavity. Each of the walls 32 is comparatively thin and a chamber 34 isformed between the walls 32 and the outer walls 36 of the section. Apair of meeting walls 38 and 40 are formed into the two sections, thewall 38 having a circular projecting lip 42 and the wall 40 having acomplementary counterbore 44 into which the lip 42 seats when thesections are fastened together.

In carrying out my process I place a partially inflated football intothe semi-elliptical socket 32 of the lower section I8 and bring thesections together and lock them by means of latches 24 and pins 22. Inthis way a mold corresponding to the exact size of a football isprovided. Means for allowing the valve of the football to protrude fromthe mold must be provided and accordingly I provide an elongated opening45 formed partially in section l6 and partially in section l8 throughwhich the valve .may extend. Thus a football may be placed in the moldand a pump connected to the valve, and air under a high pressure may bepumped into the football bladder. I have found that a maximum of 150pounds of air is sufficient to force the leather casing or coveringagainst the walls 32 of the mold to allow the leather to be-shaped tothe exact interior contour of the mold.

In carrying out myinvention, I desire to provide a continuous flow ofhot water within chambers 34. Accordingly I provide inlet conduits 48and 50 into the upper end of the chambers 34 of the sections 18 and I8and outlet or return conduits 52 and 54 extending from adjacent thelower ends of the chambers, said latter conduits being at sides of saidsections which are opposite from those to which conduits '48 and 50connect. Both conduits 48 and 50 extend in a standpipe '56 extendingfrom the upper end of a water heater 58 and both return conduits 52 and54 communicat-e with a conduit which extends to a fourway connection 62of a return conduit 64. The conduit-84 enters the lower end of theheater 58.

It can readily be seen that a circulation of heated water is effectedfrom heater 58 through standpipe 56 and conduits 48 and 50 and returnconduits 52,54 and 68. To 'provideat'all times a suflicient supply ofhot water a reservoir 66 is provided having a conduit 68 extendingdownwardly therefrom and communicating with the return conduit 64 bymeans of the four-way connection 82.

Although connecting the inlet conduits 48 and 50 to the upper ends ofchambers'34 of sections 18 and" and of the outlet conduits 52 and 54 tothe lower ends of said chambers is preferable, as insuring the mostperfect circulation of water within said chambers, it is nevertheless tobe understood that good results will be obtained and a fairly uniformcirculation of water and heat will be had whenboth inlet conduits 48 and50 and outlet conduits 52 and 54 are connected'to chambers 34 ofsections l6 and I8 at the lower ends thereof. Since it is a well-knownphysical fact'that warmer water seeks higher levels, the waterlnchambers 34 of sections it and I8 would circulate within said chambersand uniformly heat the inner walls 32 and 32, as the case may benotwithstanding thatthe inlet and outlet conduits connected to each ofsaid sections l5 and I3 may be at the same level.

Suitable valves 18 and 12 are provided in the inlet conduits 48 and 58so that the supply of hot water to either of the chambers may beproperly regulated. A thermometer T is provided for each chamber 34being suitably connected thereto in any well-known manner.

Since it is desired to provide a construction wherein hot water isavailable to the chamber of upper section I8 a swivel connection must beprovided in the conduit 52, consequently the pipe 52 engages in asuitable tapped opening in wall 38 of upper section I6, and when thesection is swung open upon the hinge 28 the conduit will become slightlyunscrewed. Since this action only unscrews the conduit approximately ofa turn during the opening movement and because the water is under noappreciable pressure this action is not sufiicient to cause any leakageat the connection. I have also found that a suitable swivel connectionmay be formed by producing a similar action between the portion 52 ofconduit 58 and the T member 52 whereby the conduit 52 is connected tothe conduit 60. A similar connection is required in the conduit 48 andits connection with the upper section l6.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2 pipe lines 48 and 58 enter the upper ends ofthe sections of molding'unit A. Similarly conduits 53 and 55 extend fromthe lower ends of the units and connect with a return conduit 61 whichconnects with the four-way unit I52. Suitable valves 18 and 12' arelikewise provided to regulate the flow of hot water to the sections ofthe molding unit A.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated in cross sectional view the internal wall32 015 the basketball molding unit A. As can clearly be seen the wallhas a chamber 3'4 surrounding same and an external wall 36, which issimilar in all respects to the football molding unit B.

The purpose of providing a continuous circulation of hot water aroundthe molding walls is to allow heat to 'be inducted into the leathercasing for the ball. This heat serves to render the leather much morepliable, and consequently as- 'sis'ts -in forming the casing to theexact shape of themold.

I have found by actual experiments that by placing to pounds of airpressure in the ball by remaining in the mold from 2 to 3 minutes. 5

Thus it can be seen that I have provided a very effective and efiicientmethod for shaping balls of this type. The apparatus is capable ofshaping balls continuously at a. rate of speed heretofore foundimpossible and each ball that has been shaped is necessarily andabsolutely perfect in exterior contour.

The invention is capable of wide variation, and Id0 not wish to belimited to the exact details shown; rather what I desire to secure andprotect'by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for treating, forming or shaping leather covered inflatableballs comprising a split mold unit having two sections, the'sectionswhen closed providing a forming chamber therein of the exact desiredsize of the balls, said sections having outer walls spaced from thewalls of said forming chamber, means for circulating hot water in thespace around said forming chamber,

said sections being hinged together on one side and having means on anopposite side for looking said sections in a closed position, said meanscomprising a pair of latch members pivotally mounted on one sectionhaving 'arcuately shaped open-mouthed slots formed therein and a pair ofcomplementary pins secured to the other section for engagement therein.

2. Apparatus for treating, forming or shaping leather covered inflatableballs comprising a split mold unit having two sections, the sectionswhen closed providing a forming chamber therein of the exact desiredsize of the balls, a passageway for a ball valve extending from saidchamber medially between said sections, said sections having outer wallsspaced from the walls of said forming chamber, means for circulating hotwater in the space around said forming chamber, said sections beinghinged together on one side and having means on an opposite side forlocking said sections in a closed position, said means comprising a pairof latch members pivotally mounted on one section having arcuatelyshaped open-mouthed slots formed therein and a pair of complementarypins secured to the other section for engagement therein.

3. An apparatus for treating, forming or shaping an inflatable ball,comprising a pair of identically constructed complementary sectionshingedly connected at one side, latch means at the opposite side of thesections for holding the latter fixed relatively in operativeassociation, each section including an inner wall corresponding in shapeto one-half of the outline of the ball to be treated, and an outer wallspaced from said inner wall and defining a heat receiving chambercompletely surrounding said inner wall, and a connecting wall betweenthe adjacent edges of said inner and outer walls, a shoulder formed onthe inner wall of one section, and a depending lip carried by the innerwall of the other section to engage said shoulders when said sectionsare associated.

4. An apparatus for treating, forming or shaping an inflatable ball,comprising a pair of complementary sections, each section including aninner wall corresponding in shape to one-half of the outline of the ballto be treated, an outer wall spaced from said inner wall and defining aheating chamber completely surrounding said inner wall, inlet conduitsconnecting with the upper ends of said sections, outlet conduitsconnecting with the lower ends of said sections, and a heat generatingsource, theother ends of both series of said conduits connecting withsaid heat generating source.

5. An apparatus for treating, forming or shaping an inflatable ball,comprising a pair of identically constructed complementary lower andupper sections hingedly connected at one side, each section including aninner wall corresponding in shape to one-half of the outline of the ballto be treated, an outer wall spaced from said inner wall and defining aheating chamber completely surrounding said inner wall in each section,inlet conduits connecting with said sections at the upper ends thereof,outlet conduits connecting with the lower ends of said sections, a heatgenerating source with which the opposite ends of both series ofconduits connect, and

swivel connections in the inlet and outlet conduits cooperating with theupper section permitting angular shifting motion of said upper sectionwith respect to the lower section upon the hinge.

6. An apparatus for treating, forming or shaping an inflatable ball,comprising a pair of identically constructed complementary lower andupper sections hingedly connected at one side, each section including aninner wall corresponding in shape to one-half of the outline of the ballto be treated, an outer wall spaced from said inner wall and defining aheating chamber completely surrounding said inner wall in each section,inlet conduits connecting with said sections at the upper ends thereof,outlet conduits connecting with the lower ends of said sections, a heatgenerating source with which the opposite ends of both series ofconduits connect, and non-rigid means in the inlet and outlet conduitscooperating with the upper section for permitting angular wall anddefining a heating chamber completely surrounding said inner wall ineach section, inlet conduits connecting with said sections at the upperends thereof, outlet conduits connecting with the lower ends of saidsections, a heat generating source with which the opposite ends of bothseries of conduits connect, and means in the inlet and outlet conduitsconnecting with the upper section permitting unimpeded heat circulationtherethrough even at the time of shifting of said upper section withrespect to the lower section upon the hinge connection therebetween.

8. An apparatus for treating, forming or shaping an inflatable ball,comprising a pair of identically constructed complementary lower andupper sections hingedly connected at one side, each section including aninner wall corresponding in shape to one-half of the outline of the ballto be treated, an outer wall spaced from said inner wall and defining aheating chamber completely surrounding said inner wall in each section,inlet conduits connecting with said sections at the upper ends thereof,outlet conduits connecting with the lower ends of said sections, a heatgenerating source with which the opposite ends of both series oi!conduits connect, means in the inlet and outlet conduits connecting withthe upper section permitting unimpeded heat circulation therethrougheven at the time of shifting of said upper section with respect to thelower section upon the hinge connection therebetween, and means at saidinlet conduit regulating the flow of heat.

9. An apparatus for treating, forming or shaping an inflatable ball,comprising a pair of complementary sections, each section including aninner wall corresponding in shape to one-half of the outline of the ballto be treated, an outer wall spaced from said inner wall and defining aheating chamber completely surrounding said inner wall, inlet conduitsconnecting with said sections, outlet conduits connecting with saidsections, and a heat generating source, the opposite ends of both seriesof said conduits connecting with said heat generating source.

10. An apparatus for shaping inflatable leather balls which comprises apair of mold sections having complementary mold cavities thereinproviding a mold oi. the size and shape of the balls being treated, saidmold sections having impertorate 7 metal inner suriaces adapted todirectly contact the outer leather surface of the balls, means forreleasably securing said mold sections together, said mold sectionshaving means providing for inflating said balls after they arepositioned in the mold to force the entire leather surface of the ballsagainst said imperforate metal surface, and heating means including asource of supply and water jackets in communication therewithsurrounding said cavities for continuously maintaining said balls at therequired shaping temperature during positioning and shaping of saidballs in said mold.

11. An apparatus for shaping dry leather-covered inflatable balls whichcomprises a pair of mold sections having complementary mold cavitiestherein providing a mold of the size and shape of the balls beingtreated, said mold sections having imperforate metal inner surfacesadapted to directly contact the outer dry leather surface :entire dryleather surface of the balls against said imperforate metal surface,said balls being maintained in a dry condition while within said moldsections, and heating means including water jackets surrounding saidcavities for continuous y maintaining said molds at the required shapingtemperature during positioning and shaping of said balls in said mold.

12. An apparatus for shaping dry leather-covered inflatable balls whichcomprises a plurality of mold sections having complementary moldcavities therein providing a mold of the size and shape of the ballsbeing treated, said mold sections having imperforate and imperviousimier surfaces for direct contact with the dry outer leather surface ofpaid balls, means for releasably securing said mold sections together,said mold sections having an aperture providing for inflating said ballsafter they are positioned in said mold to force the entire dry leathersurface of the balls against said imperforate and impervious surface,said balls being maintained in a dry condition while in said moldsections, and heating jackets surrounding said cavities for continuouslymaintaining said molds at the required shaping temperature duringpositioning and shaping of said balls, said jackets containing a heatconducting medium, and means for 25 heating said heat conducting medium.

BENJAMIN KOZMER.

